Birmingham (03/11) review

[jackethead]

A suprisingly low turn out last night. Scroobius Pip were playing in the same venue, and Jim did acknowledge that they hadn't actually been to Birmingham before (shows on the previous 2 tours were cancelled) and that there were other shows in town that night (and a big football match). Venue was a bit cavernous with so few people as well.

Support was The Head & The Heart - a more upbeat Fleet Foxes, if you like, with nice harmonies. The girl playing the violin looked, besides beautiful, very agitated - no idea if something was wrong, but they put on a good set.

MMJ played a variation on the previous night's setlist. Most of the new album was aired. I'd have to say Moving Away is too slow for a gig like that. Jim came on with a strange large box of electronics with lights and a digital display slung around his neck - couldn't tell what it did  - anyone know ?

Can't remember the setlist, but they played a blinding Dondante (worth the price of admission alone) and were gearing up for the final run when they did a very strange version of Wonderful Man - the first verse acapella by Jim, then lots of furious hand waving to cue Patrick in and they slammed into the  closing instrumental section and then went off. ...

After a long break, Jim came back and told us they'd blown up the monitor system and it had caught fire. He then played an acoustic Bermuda Highway (a highlight) and Wonderful, before the band came back on looking sheepish and bid us goodnight.

So we didn't get Magheetah, Wordless, Black Metal (the one new song I wanted to hear) nor OBH. Dunno why they couldn't continue, but the gig just fizzled out really.

Maybe they're jinxed in Birmingham ???

Don't leave it 3 years until next time, please ....

[drw]

This being only my second show, I was blown away from the opening, Victory Dance, Dondante, Moving Away and Jim's encore all stood out. Shame about blowing the monitors. Along with enjoying Head & the Heart, getting Jim and Patrick to sign my T shirt, more than made up for the short ending. OBH would have been the icing to a great night. Tempted to go to Manchester.  Cheers fellas

[Fully]

This being only my second show, I was blown away from the opening, Victory Dance, Dondante, Moving Away and Jim's encore all stood out. Shame about blowing the monitors. Along with enjoying Head & the Heart, getting Jim and Patrick to sign my T shirt, more than made up for the short ending. OBH would have been the icing to a great night. Tempted to go to Manchester.  Cheers fellas

Go to Manchester. It might be awhile before  you get to see them again!

[rusty95]

Would love to hear that acapella bit, and nice you got BH, it's been awhile.

[GO4IT]

Jackethead covered much of this but here is my review written on the train to Leeds...

Last night in Birmingham was a unique MMJ experience at this point in their career.  I figured the UK shows would provide an opportunity to go back in time somewhat and see them in a more intimate setting and I got that last night, even more than I had expected.  The HMV Institute venue was indeed a nice old intimate space, probably holding less than 1,000 even if stuffed to the gills with the balcony open.  But last night the balcony was closed and only about 200-300 of the faithful showed up.  The lighting was sparse – none of the rotating lights from 2008 and current era or video screens of the Circuital tour, just good old fashioned basic stage lights.  I found out that there was an 11PM curfew and was a bit concerned that the show might be cut short since the Head and the Heart went on stage a few minutes after 8.  Little did I know what was to come.

The H&H played an excellent and vigorous set but I was pleased to see them exit after about a half hour given the curfew.  MMJ then took the stage around 8:45.  I was wondering how the band would react to the small crowd and whether it would affect their performance.  The opener, Victory Dance, seemed flat relative to the 4 other shows I have seen on this tour so I became a bit concerned (maybe it was partly the lack of a big audience reaction or bone-crushing bass as in the past shows).  But from Circuital on it was clear that they were bringing their typical "A-game".  True professionals, whether playing for 70,000 at Bonarroo or 0.5% of that crowd in Birmingham.

Due to a little help from James, who I met on the rail and who was there with his lovely wife, I secured a spot on the rail, front and center which was quite sweet.  I won't go through all the songs (setlist posted at bottom) but, overall, they stuck to the basics and not a whole lot of improvising as they have been doing on some songs in the States on this tour.  Dondante was quite good but a few minutes shorter than some versions on this tour.

As they approached the end of the main set Jim got distracted by something back stage on his side and signaled the band to bring Wonderful Man to an early conclusion.  Not knowing or seeing anything unusual, I suspected that he realized that it was getting late – about 10:30 – and that they needed to move on to their encore if they were going to get most of it in before curfew.  They exited the stage and nothing remarkable seemed to be going on.  The small but committed crowd chanted for more. Then, after about 10 min., Jim comes back on stage and announces that the monitor had caught fire and that they weren't sure if the soundsystem would work.  He goes on to say that if it doesn't work, he'll just stand up front and play without it which was an option in this venue.  So he starts out on Bermuda Highway, clearly an unplanned acoustic diversion and one of my absolute favorites and within 5 second there is a loud popping sound and Jim recoils from the mike.  Since nothing particularly bad seems to have happened as a result of the big pop, he soldiers on. Then, even though the mike is still working, about half way through BH he decides to go sans amplification and steps to the center and edge of the stage (recall where I am standing to imagine the smile on my face) to play for about a minute before returning to the mike which is actually working quite well, and, by the way, Jim's voice was working superbly this night as well.  Then, with the rest of the band looking on from backstage, Jim sings Wondeful Man and the show is over with the rest of the boys coming on stage to wave to the crowd.

I feel bad for some of the faithful who don't have the opportunity to see them often in Europe and didn't get to hear Black Metal, OBH and the others.  It wasn't such a big deal for me since this was my 14th show and I'll have another bite at the apple on Sat night in Leeds.  I'm, in fact, on the train to Leeds right now as I write this.  Looking forward to seeing the forum folks and others there (see Leeds thread for meet-up info).

Setlist:
Victory Dance
Circuital
Off the Record
Gideon
I'm Amazed
Golden
Outta my System
First Light
Dondante
Smokin from Shootin
End of Run Thur
Movin Away
Wonderful Man (cut short)

Acoustic Encore:
Bermuda Highway
Wonderful

[MarkW]

Nice reviews, Jackethead and g4i.  Sad for those who missed the big encore, but an acoustic BH isn't to be sniffed at.

See you all tomorrow at Leeds (and Manchester on Sunday).

[vespachick]

Due to a little help from James, who I met on the rail and who was there with his lovely wife, I secured a spot on the rail, front and center which was quite sweet. 

I hope Christine doesn't see this.   ??? :-\

[Penny Lane]

Due to a little help from James, who I met on the rail and who was there with his lovely wife, I secured a spot on the rail, front and center which was quite sweet. 

I hope Christine doesn't see this.   ??? :-\

she saw...she saw...pfffffffffftttttttttttttttttt

politically correct/mature response: That's just AWESOME news...everyone deserves happiness.  ;) :) ...and I hope they played " Winter Song"?

[iareyeti]

Hey Rob, it was nice meeting you last night! No problem with the spot on the barrier we had plenty of room :)

I've wrote a review on my website about the night, still not washed my hand after getting skin from Jim! (joke I showered).

Anyways! I wrote up a review for the show if you fancied a read. Hope you get back home ok and hope you enjoyed your stay in jolly old England!

http://iareyeti.com/2011/11/04/my-morning-jacket-hmv-institute-birmingham-uk-3112011/

^ Thats the review.

[GO4IT]

Enjoyed reliving the show once again through your review iareyeti and nice meeting you and your wife last night and sharing the rail.

Note to female jacketeers: there are other Jameses in this world and some have wives; sorry if I gave anyone a heart attack.

And I noted a mistake in my concert review.  The last song was Wonderful (as in my setlist), not Wonderful Man.

[iareyeti]

You forgot to put touch me pt 2 aswell  :P

[johnnYYac]

Google Alerts directed me to these photos from Birmingham UK 11-3-11.

[Sweet Nothing]

A suprisingly low turn out last night. Scroobius Pip were playing in the same venue, and Jim did acknowledge that they hadn't actually been to Birmingham before (shows on the previous 2 tours were cancelled) and that there were other shows in town that night (and a big football match). Venue was a bit cavernous with so few people as well.

Support was The Head & The Heart - a more upbeat Fleet Foxes, if you like, with nice harmonies. The girl playing the violin looked, besides beautiful, very agitated - no idea if something was wrong, but they put on a good set.

MMJ played a variation on the previous night's setlist. Most of the new album was aired. I'd have to say Moving Away is too slow for a gig like that. Jim came on with a strange large box of electronics with lights and a digital display slung around his neck - couldn't tell what it did  - anyone know ?

Can't remember the setlist, but they played a blinding Dondante (worth the price of admission alone) and were gearing up for the final run when they did a very strange version of Wonderful Man - the first verse acapella by Jim, then lots of furious hand waving to cue Patrick in and they slammed into the  closing instrumental section and then went off. ...

After a long break, Jim came back and told us they'd blown up the monitor system and it had caught fire. He then played an acoustic Bermuda Highway (a highlight) and Wonderful, before the band came back on looking sheepish and bid us goodnight.

So we didn't get Magheetah, Wordless, Black Metal (the one new song I wanted to hear) nor OBH. Dunno why they couldn't continue, but the gig just fizzled out really.

Maybe they're jinxed in Birmingham ???

Don't leave it 3 years until next time, please ....

Got this info from the MPP roll call thread on page 23 which had a link to a review of the show by The Washington Post where the author states "Frontman Jim James’ melodies frequently reference the Southern rock and soul music of the ’60s and ’70s, but he’s happy enough to strut around the stage wearing a sampler — the iconic instrument of hip-hop production — as a necklace."

Hope this helps answer your question about what it is that Jim wears around his neck for the beginnings of the shows.  If not i am sure someone else has some more info about it.

[Jon T.]

A suprisingly low turn out last night. Scroobius Pip were playing in the same venue, and Jim did acknowledge that they hadn't actually been to Birmingham before (shows on the previous 2 tours were cancelled) and that there were other shows in town that night (and a big football match). Venue was a bit cavernous with so few people as well.

Support was The Head & The Heart - a more upbeat Fleet Foxes, if you like, with nice harmonies. The girl playing the violin looked, besides beautiful, very agitated - no idea if something was wrong, but they put on a good set.

MMJ played a variation on the previous night's setlist. Most of the new album was aired. I'd have to say Moving Away is too slow for a gig like that. Jim came on with a strange large box of electronics with lights and a digital display slung around his neck - couldn't tell what it did  - anyone know ?

Can't remember the setlist, but they played a blinding Dondante (worth the price of admission alone) and were gearing up for the final run when they did a very strange version of Wonderful Man - the first verse acapella by Jim, then lots of furious hand waving to cue Patrick in and they slammed into the  closing instrumental section and then went off. ...

After a long break, Jim came back and told us they'd blown up the monitor system and it had caught fire. He then played an acoustic Bermuda Highway (a highlight) and Wonderful, before the band came back on looking sheepish and bid us goodnight.

So we didn't get Magheetah, Wordless, Black Metal (the one new song I wanted to hear) nor OBH. Dunno why they couldn't continue, but the gig just fizzled out really.

Maybe they're jinxed in Birmingham ???

Don't leave it 3 years until next time, please ....

Got this info from the MPP roll call thread on page 23 which had a link to a review of the show by The Washington Post where the author states "Frontman Jim James' melodies frequently reference the Southern rock and soul music of the '60s and '70s, but he's happy enough to strut around the stage wearing a sampler — the iconic instrument of hip-hop production — as a necklace."

Hope this helps answer your question about what it is that Jim wears around his next for the beginnings of the shows.  If not i am sure someone else has some more info about it.

I think Yac found exactly what it is, but "necklace" sounds pretty good, too!

[johnnYYac]

A suprisingly low turn out last night. Scroobius Pip were playing in the same venue, and Jim did acknowledge that they hadn't actually been to Birmingham before (shows on the previous 2 tours were cancelled) and that there were other shows in town that night (and a big football match). Venue was a bit cavernous with so few people as well.

Support was The Head & The Heart - a more upbeat Fleet Foxes, if you like, with nice harmonies. The girl playing the violin looked, besides beautiful, very agitated - no idea if something was wrong, but they put on a good set.

MMJ played a variation on the previous night's setlist. Most of the new album was aired. I'd have to say Moving Away is too slow for a gig like that. Jim came on with a strange large box of electronics with lights and a digital display slung around his neck - couldn't tell what it did  - anyone know ?

Can't remember the setlist, but they played a blinding Dondante (worth the price of admission alone) and were gearing up for the final run when they did a very strange version of Wonderful Man - the first verse acapella by Jim, then lots of furious hand waving to cue Patrick in and they slammed into the  closing instrumental section and then went off. ...

After a long break, Jim came back and told us they'd blown up the monitor system and it had caught fire. He then played an acoustic Bermuda Highway (a highlight) and Wonderful, before the band came back on looking sheepish and bid us goodnight.

So we didn't get Magheetah, Wordless, Black Metal (the one new song I wanted to hear) nor OBH. Dunno why they couldn't continue, but the gig just fizzled out really.

Maybe they're jinxed in Birmingham ???

Don't leave it 3 years until next time, please ....

Got this info from the MPP roll call thread on page 23 which had a link to a review of the show by The Washington Post where the author states "Frontman Jim James' melodies frequently reference the Southern rock and soul music of the '60s and '70s, but he's happy enough to strut around the stage wearing a sampler — the iconic instrument of hip-hop production — as a necklace."

Hope this helps answer your question about what it is that Jim wears around his next for the beginnings of the shows.  If not i am sure someone else has some more info about it.

I think Yac found exactly what it is, but "necklace" sounds pretty good, too!

Good memory.

What's that weird thing in his lap?  I got to get me 6 of those!

JY if you could acquire that thing around his neck during "victory dance" you'd be my hero.

Might be this

I was right!


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